Layering up for winter…

This week’s guest blogger is Lorna Thompson – a tailoring consultant at our Liverpool Street store. She’s going to help us beat the winter blues through keeping warm and dressing with style…

After an exceptionally mild autumn and what was looking like a record-breakingly warm December – all that is about to change. Average temperatures have plummeted in the last few days and this week the met office have predicted temperatures as low as -5… and the first snowfall of the year.

The good news for readers of From the Cutting Room Table is that you can finally start to embrace your winter wardrobe! Whether this be a scarf hastily wrapped over a 12oz winter weight suit, a pair of leather gloves or a woollen jumper nestled underneath a suit jacket, layers upon layers is the fundamental mainstay of the winter wardrobe. The challenge is to keep the colour palette tonal with one statement item incorporated within your outfit. In short – the key is to keep it simple.

The overcoat is one of the most versatile piece’s of outerwear, and it will serve you well right through into the early days of spring. Thrown on over a suit, it is all you need to brave the chilly early mornings and late nights. A well chosen coat can be worn with all outfits. Stick to a simple cut in a luxurious fabric: black, charcoal or navy will create a classic stylish look or alternatively you could go for a camel or checked tweed – for a more country feel.

An eye-catching overcoat, teamed with a winter weight textured suit, is both stylish and practical. You could go for a plain block colour or something with a definite pattern, like tweed or a herringbone. Keep the rest of your outfit minimal, letting all the focus rest on the striking overcoat.

Or why not team an overcoat with a patterned scarf worn styled inside the jacket, in a knot to prevent it flying away in the wind? Here the contrasting patterns work effortlessly together as they are all in the same grey colour palette. Layering an overcoat over a jacket, layered over a shirt instantly adds that much needed additional warmth.

To create a more relaxed feel to the tailored jacket you could incorporate an on-trend chunky roll neck into your outfit, in the same shade as the jacket for a classic clean look. Integrating a knitwear piece into an outfit instantly creates a more casual feel, taking you effortlessly through from day to evening.

To create a more relaxed feel to the tailored jacket you could incorporate an on-trend chunky roll neck into your outfit, in the same shade as the jacket for a classic clean look. Integrating a knitwear piece into an outfit instantly creates a more casual feel, taking you effortlessly through from day to evening.

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Accessories play a key part in a man’s winter wardrobe: a simple pair of leather gloves are something no man should live without throughout the winter months, adding instant style to an outfit. For the style conscious man, why not try adding a classy necktie for something a little bit different? Take note, if you are wearing more than one accessory at a time, just make sure there isn’t a colour clash.

Call 0800 0274430 or contact us here for more information about King & Allen. We have fitting locations in London: Liverpool St, Wilmslow and Surbiton. We also take appointments on Savile Row, by appointment only.

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Nothing pulls an outfit together more than the addition of an overcoat. It's been a staple in the fashion landscape for years and has recently had something of a resurgence in the public imagination...